Just a question.

In a previous post, you said you had lost some weight on MFP a few months ago then trailed off. I'd suggest that the most important aspect of what calorie county you choose. is what you can stay with to the end, and that forms the basis for how you'll eat for life so you won't be a yo-yo dieter through life as too many of us have been, including me. If eating 1,500 calories a day gives you more choices, more feeling that you're quite happy with how you're eating, it would be a better way to go. It won't make a huge difference in how quickly you lose the weight.

You'll have to see what works for your body. 1200 calories is the bottom limit that women should intake. If you drop below that you'll gain weight or plateau...isn't that weird? Anyway, watch how it works, otherwise I'd say about 1500 calories is probably a good amount to intake. Join us over at Dwindling Expectations if you'd like to...we're of all different ages all struggling the same...but our style is to live life! YOLO! See you there!

Lisa
L64Reed

As a SAHM I burn well over MFP's "Very active" setting. You are not sedentary as a SAHM... even with plenty of MFP and Facebook time

Plus, I don't think you have enough to lose to aim for 2 lbs/week.

So if you set your activity to "Moderately active" and change your goal to 1 lb/week, how many calories does it give you? I'd start there if I were you. It will help with compliance. And I'd also recommend at least 100g protein while meeting your calorie target.

In order to get another opinion regarding proper calorie intake look at WebMD. Based on your age, weight and activity level as well as how much you want to lose per week, WebMD will give you calorie suggestions.

Have fun!!!

After much playing with intake levels earlier in my own diet, I would suggest that you:

1. Let MFP tell you what to eat, telling it you are a complete couch potato. This will be 1200.
2. Don't eat less than this, unless you're following a specific fasting plan.
3. Exercise as often as you can - every day, if possible, even if it's only a 20 minute, slow walk. It all helps.
4. Eat back most, if not all of your exercise calories, on top of your base 1200.

With a reasonable bit of exercise every day, you'll end up eating 1500 or more every day, which is much more manageable to maintain in the long run that 1200. Plus, you won't slip into the mythical 'starvation mode' (i.e. you shouldn't plateau), and you should minimise muscle loss while losing fat weight.

HI. A stay at home mom isn't sedentary, unless the kids are neglected. So, bump that up a notch or two.

My advice would be to set your sodium intake to 1500 mg and do your best to stay under that. If you go over by a couple hundred, that's ok, but it will help you to keep it down. It helps me, anyway.

And instead of 2 lbs per week, say one lb per week. That will give you a more reasonable calorie intake.

Just curious, have you tried an elimination diet for your migraines? Some foods cause migraines in some people, especially during childbearing years. Something about hormones. I had them for years, but I cut out certain foods and they went away. Oranges, avocados, ripe bananas, chocolate and MSG are just some that sent me into fits.

http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/triggers-29502-5.html

Oh hey OP... just a thought... I'm not trying to sound preachy, but you said you've had migraines since you were 12... I had them too. They started right around that age. I tracked the source to aspartame. Not saying that's the cause for you, but if you're consuming diet pop or other things sweetened with it, you may want to try cutting it out to see if that helps.